Fifa Ballon d'Or: Andres Iniesta and the best players never to win the award

Fifa Ballon d'Or: Andres Iniesta and the best players never to win the award

1/12

Andres Iniesta
There is a strong case that Andres Iniesta should have won the award in 2008, 2010 and this year. In all of those years he was the key player in Spain's success - being named the player of the tournament last summer and scoring the winning goal in the World Cup final. This year he finished third in the running for Fifa Ballon d'Or and in 2010 came second.

GETTY IMAGES

2/12

Diego Maradona/Pele
The two players often regarded as the greatest of all time were never eligible to win the accolade. The Fifa World Player of the Year award, devised in 1991, arrived too late. The Ballon d'Or only allowed European players plying their trade in Europe to win from its inception in 1956 through to 1995. All nationalities were then included, although only those playing in Europe. In 2007 the Ballon d'Or was opened up to all and in 2010 the two awards merged to create the Fifa Ballon d'Or. The following included in this list are only those who were eligible to lift the prize.

GETTY IMAGES

3/12

Thierry Henry
Arguably the greatest player in Arsenal's history and among those who helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships two years later. Perhaps was most unfortunate not to win in 2006 after helping his country reach the World Cup final, becoming the Gunners' leading all-time scorer and taking Arsenal to the Champions League final. That year he finished third in the Ballon d'Or reckoning behind Italy's World Cup heroes Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon. He also came second in the Ballon d'Or in 2003, behind Pavel Nedved, and second in 2003 and 2004 in the Fifa World Player of the Year behind Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho respectively.

GETTY IMAGES

4/12

Raul
Among the greatest ever players to represent Real Madrid yet always just short on the awards front. He won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues but was unable to lift the Ballon d'Or - coming closest in 2001 when he finished second behind Michael Owen.

GETTY IMAGES

5/12

Alan Shearer
The archetypal centre forward and Newcastle legend holds the record for the most goals scored in the Premier League with an insane 260 next to his name. He was brilliant for England too - scoring 30 goals for the national side. Yet he was never recognised with the top honour - although came third for the Ballon d'Or in 1996 behind Matthias Sammer and Ronaldo.

GETTY IMAGES

6/12

Frank Rijkaard
Perhaps in a similar situation to today's Messi understudies, Ajax and AC Milan legend Frank Rijkaard was in the shadow of countryman Marco van Basten. Despite winning six league titles, a European Cup and being recognised as the best defensive midfielder of his age, Rijkaard could only finish third for the Ballon d'Or in 1988 and 1989 - both years in which van Basten won the award.

GETTY IMAGES

7/12

Dennis Bergkamp
Another Arsenal and Netherlands legend who failed to win the top award. A simply incredible player who consistently struck awe into those fortunate enough to watch him play. He came second in the Ballon d'Or running in 1993 behind Roberto Baggio and in 1992 finished as runner up to Marco van Basten. In 1993 he also finished behind Baggio for the Fifa World Player of the Year, placing third.

GETTY IMAGES

8/12

Paolo Maldini
It's always tough to grab the attention from those scoring the goals - but when it came to stopping them Paulo Maldini had few peers. Yet the one-club man who seven Serie A titles and five European Cups was never handed the top prize. In 1994 he finished third for the Ballon d'Or behind Hristo Stoichkov and in 1995 came second in the running for Fifa World Player of the Year behind George Weah. Another player who spent his entire career at AC Milan but never won the prize was Franco Baresi, a player voted the club's Player of the Century. He finished second in 1989 behind Marco van Basten.

GETTY IMAGES

9/12

Peter Schmeichel
Probably never the best player in any individual year, but included as a nod to keepers who never quite get the same appreciation as their outfield team-mates. Schmeichel was outstanding at Manchester United and was arguably the rock on which Alex Ferguson built the most dominant force in English football. In the history of the Ballon d'Or only one keeper has won the award - Lev Yashin (also known as the Black Spider) in 1963.

GETTY IMAGES

10/12

Kenny Dalglish
In the early 80s Liverpool were almost untouchable - they won the title five times in seven years between 1980 and 1986. At the heart of it all was Kenny Dalglish - a man who has more Scotland caps than any other and who is his country's joint top scorer. Yet the closest he came to the Ballon d'Or was second place when in 1983 he finished behind Michel Platini, who was picking up the first of his three successive triumphs.

GETTY IMAGES

11/12

Eric Cantona
Regularly voted the greatest player in the history of the Premier League, the closest Cantona came to winning the Ballon d'Or was a third place finish in 1993 - the year Roberto Baggio won the award. He won five league titles in England and did so in a style that was like no other.

GETTY IMAGES

12/12

Ferenc Puskás
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Puskas scored 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues and 84 goals in 85 matches for Hungary. Yet incredibly he never won the Ballon d'Or - finishing second behind Luis Suarez in 1960. Perhaps there has been a feeling of guilt felt by football's authorities at such an oversight, as Fifa introduced the Ferenc Puskás award in 2009 for the "most beautful goal" of the year.

GETTY IMAGES

Many, including this year's recipient, have argued that Andres Iniesta should have won the Fifa Ballon d'Or that was awarded earlier this week.

The Barcelona midfielder was the driving force behind his country's Euro 2012 success, just as he was when Spain won the tournament in 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. The 28-year-old was also instrumental in his club's midfield as the Catalans continued to entertain like no other side.

Having been overlooked for Lionel Messi, who won the prize for the fourth year in a row, perhaps Iniesta's best chance of winning the award has gone.

Should Iniesta fail to be recognised as the world's greatest player at some stage in his career a shocking omission will surely have been created when the record books are looked back on in future years. But which other greats missed out on the award...